Greta Thunberg defends radical protests ahead of the climate change conference in Glasgow

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Greta Thunberg arrived in Glasgow on Saturday

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BEN STANSALL / AFP

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg has defended more momentous forms of protest in the fight for more climate protection.

"The school strike movement would never have become so well known if there had been no friction, if some people had not been pissed off," Thunberg told the BBC at the start of the UN climate summit COP26 in Glasgow.

When asked specifically about activists who block streets, Thunberg said: "As long as no one is injured, I think that sometimes you have to annoy people."

In Great Britain, climate activists who campaign for better insulation of houses had recently blocked important motorways and thus triggered traffic jams.

The government obtained injunctions against the group Insulate Britain and sharply criticized the actions of the demonstrators.

Thunberg not officially invited to COP26

Thunberg arrived in Glasgow on Saturday.

Numerous climate activists who also traveled by train to the Scottish city welcomed the 18-year-old enthusiastically.

Police officers had to shield Thunberg.

According to her own statements, she was not officially invited to COP26.

In Glasgow she wants to lead a climate protest.

Thunberg accused the COP host Great Britain of not taking climate protection seriously enough.

“When you see a pattern of political decisions that always avoid taking real action, you can draw conclusions from that pattern.

Namely, that climate protection is really not the top priority at the moment, «she said.

The British government recently announced that it would lower taxes on domestic flights.

In addition, despite protests, London is sticking to the expansion of a new oil field in the North Sea.

svs / dpa